How to Extend the Life of Your Car Battery

With winter steadily approaching, it’s more important than ever to practice intelligent car battery care in Jefferson, WI. The falling temperatures and inclement weather will put extra stress on your car’s battery that could cause it to fail on you at the worst possible moment. With a little bit of education and foresight, however, you can prolong the life of your car battery and diminish your odds of battery failure when the winter weather swirls around you.

Don’t take short trips…

When your car starts, the charge in your battery diminishes. That charge is regained over the course of your trip, but it needs time to do so. When you’re taking short trips and turning your engine on and off repeatedly, you’re not allowing your battery the time it needs to get back to even footing.

…but try not to leave the car unused

Even though you’re trying to prevent stress on your car’s battery, you still need to keep using it. Regardless of the brand you purchase, a car’s battery will self-discharge at a rate of about 1 percent a day when it goes unused.

If you’re planning to keep your car dormant for more than a week, you might talk to a local professional to discuss options (like a trickle-charger) that will keep your car battery ready to rev when you need it.

Keep your battery clean and secure

It’s a good idea to pop your hood and check your battery periodically to make sure that it is tightly fastened in place. Continuous vibration can loosen your battery and cause it to shake and wiggle vital internal components loose.

While you’re tightening your battery in place, make sure to wipe away any dirt and grime that can accumulate on your battery casing.

Avoid parking in direct sunlight

It’s never a bad idea to park your car in a covered garage whenever possible. If that’s not an option, however, you can encourage car battery preservation in Jefferson, WI by parking your vehicle in the shade.

When the sunlight has an opportunity to shine directly on the hood of your car, it can heat your engine and your battery, in particular. The excess heat saps your battery of vital water. Then, when subjected to the cold air as you drive, that drained battery can become compromised.

Keep an eye on the voltage

Once a month, hook your battery up to a multimeter or other voltage checker to ensure that your charge is staying high. This is especially important for older batteries. If your battery is holding a 75 percent or 50 percent charge, you’ll find that its performance diminishes rapidly.

Your go-to battery shop

If you’re in the market for a new or used battery, or you just need some tips to step up your car battery care in Jefferson, WI, come to Remis Power Systems Inc. We specialize in supplying residential and industrial power needs. For the area’s most comprehensive supply of batteries, accessories, chargers, wash equipment, parts storage and more, you can count on us. From the moment you walk in our door, you’ll find a knowledgeable, attentive team that’s ready to find a power solution that suits your needs. Give us a call or stop by today.

Categorised in: Car Batteries

This post was written by Writer